Wide Gate No Concern For The Cleaner In JRA Cup

The Cleaner will jump from barrier ten with 59 kilograms on his back in the 2014 JRA Cup, but trainer Mick Burles remains confident that the popular gelding can recorded his third straight win in the Group 3 event at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

The Cleaner secured his place as the most popular horse in Australia when he led all the way to win the Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley.

The Cleaner secured his place as the most popular horse in Australia when he led all the way to win the Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

The Cleaner has carried big weights throughout his racing career and Burles told Racing Ahead that he does not believe that the Savoire Vivre gelding will have any problems taking up his customary position at the front of the field in the JRA Cup.

“He has won at Flemington out of barrier 14 and he has won at Moonee Valley out of barrier 12 or 13,” Burles said.

“It doesn’t really worry him and he has the ability to get going early.

“He carries weight real good and he will just be his normal self.”

The Cleaner has become one of the most popular horses in Australia due to his exciting front-running style and ‘The Cleaner Mania’ reached a fever pitch when he led all the way to take out the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 6.

The Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes victory secured The Cleaner a start in the 2014 Cox Plate and Burles said that the seven-year-old had come out of the typically brave front-running performance in excellent condition.

“He has pulled up a treat and he has done everything right,” Burles said.

“He is pretty tough, like his trainer rough and ready.

“I can’t have him any fitter than he is and I just have to keep him ticking over.

“He is really happy and he is bright as a button.”

The prospect of a Tasmanian horse that was purchased for just $10,000 as a yearling taking on the best weight-for-age horses in the country in the Cox Plate has garnered plenty of media coverage, but Burles said that he was not enjoying his new found status as one of Australia’s most sought after racing personalities.

“I am not, it is not real good and the only reason that I am doing it is for the horses sake and the states sake,” Burles said when asked if he was enjoying the media attention.

“The last four days I have been flat strapped with them, channel seven and TVN have been over in Tassie with us.

“I won’t let it interfere with training.”

The Cleaner is currently available at 2014 JRA Cup odds of $3.60 and is a narrow favourite from Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes runner-up Mourinho ($4.20).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.